The Tools Behind the Business
What I actually open, click, and reach for every week.
People ask me a lot what I use to actually run this business – not just to shoot and edit, but to sell, manage, and grow it. So here it is, all in one place.
Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means if you click through and buy something, I might earn a small commission. It won’t cost you a penny extra, and I only ever share tools I actually use myself, so you’re never getting a recommendation I don’t stand behind myself.
What Runs Behind the Scenes
The unglamorous stuff that actually keeps a photography business functioning – email, website, Etsy visibility, and staying organised.
Email & Marketing
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) – Every lead magnet, email sequence, and landing page on this site runs through Kit. I moved my whole email system over to it because it’s built for creators, not corporations – the automation and landing pages alone have saved me hours every week. If you’re serious about growing an audience beyond Etsy (and you should be), this is where I’d start.
Website & Hosting
WordPress – The platform this whole site is built on.
BigScoots – My hosting provider. I moved here for speed and support that actually understands WordPress, and haven’t looked back.
Etsy Growth & SEO
eRank – my-go-to for Etsy keyword research and shop analytics. If you’re guessing at your titles and tags, this is the tool that turns guessing into strategy.
Staying Organised
Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Forms, Drive) – the quiet backbone of the business. Google Drive is where every free guide gets uploaded and stored, ready to deliver the moment someone opts in. Docs is where each Etsy Audit report gets written up before it lands in a client’s inbox. Forms handles my intake forms, and Sheets runs everything from pricing calculators to content planning. It’s simple, free to start, and works from anywhere – which is exactly what a one-person business needs.
Notion – my strategic home base. While Google Workspace handles the day-to-day admin, Notion is where I track affiliate links, plan content, and map out the bigger picture for the business. Having one flexible space to think and plan in – separate from the operational stuff – keeps me from losing ideas in the noise
Tap through the gallery to see exactly what I use – click any image to view the product.
Making Things Look Good
For turning photos and ideas into something shareable – social posts, Pinterest pins, listing graphics, and the odd reel.
Canva – (my go-to for shop banners, Pinterest pins, social graphics, and anything that needs to look polished without needing a design degree.
CapCut – for quick video edits, Reels, and TikToks. Simple enough to use on a lunch break, capable enough to not look like it.
Avaspot 71″ Selfie Stick Tripod – Genuinely handy for solo content creation – behind-the-scenes clips, talking-head videos, or just getting a decent angle when there’s no one around to hold the camera.
TONOR RGB USB Condensor Microphone – my-go-to for Etsy keyword research and shop analytics. If you’re guessing at your titles and tags, this is the tool that turns guessing into strategy.
Wacom Intuos Pro Graphics Tablet – Makes retouching and detail work in Photoshop far more precise than trying to do it with a mouse – especially useful for the finer edits on prints before they go up for sale.
Editing
Adobe Lightroom – where every image I sell starts its editing life. Non-negotiable for consistent, professional-looking prints.
Adobe Photoshop – for the finer detail work Lightroom can’t do alone, along with all those creativity tools.
Tap through the gallery to see exactly what I use – click any image to view the product
The Gear I Actually Shoot With
I get asked about my kit almost as often as I get asked about Etsy. Here’s what’s really in the bag — grouped by what it’s actually for, not just listed for the sake of it.
Lenses & Filters
Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens. Reliable everyday lens.
K&F Concept 67mm Star filter for adding a bit of magic to light sources without touching photography.
K&F Concept polarising filter – cuts glare and deepens skies, a staple for my landscape work.
JJC 58mm Close-up filter kit – an affordable way into macro-style shots without buying a dedicated macro lens. Perfect if, like me, you’re exploring whether macro is an area that you want to work more in.
Lighting
Godox SL-60W LED video light – my main light source for both stills and video work.
Neewer NW-670 TTL flash speedlite – reliable, budget-friendly flash for when natural light isn’t enough.
JJC macro photography arm LED light – this is a great light, a real lifesaver for close-up work where shadows are the enemy. I use it loads in autumn on the woodland floor when I’m taking fungi shots.
Support & Stability
Neewer 72″ tripod/monopod – sturdy enough for long exposures, portable enough not to resent carrying it.
Neewer L-shape bracket vertical QR plate – makes switching between landscape and portrait orientation painless.
K&F Concept 30L camera backpack (with rain cover) – my everywhere bag. The rain cover alone has saved my gear more than once.
Storage & Power
WD 5TB My Passport (Mac) – where every edited file ends up, eventually.
Lexar Professional Silver Pro 256GB card – fast enough to keep up when I’m shooting bursts.
Lexar CFexpress card (Nikon D850) – my card of choice for high-resolution landscape work.
INIU powerbank – the unglamorous hero of every long shoot day, for my phone and smaller battery recharges.
Tap through the gallery to see exactly what I use – click any image to view the product
Build a Toolkit That Works for You
You don’t need every tool on this page to build a successful Etsy shop or stock photography portfolio – I certainly didn’t start with all of this. Start with what solves your biggest bottleneck right now, and add from there.
If you’re not sure where to start, that’s exactly what my Etsy free resources, Stock Photography free resources and Etsy Shop Audit are for.
A Quick, Honest Note on Affiliate Links
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links through Kit and Amazon Associates. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission – at absolutely no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and products I genuinely use and rate; nothing here is included because I was asked to include it. Thank you for supporting Photography Biz Success this way = it genuinely helps keep the free resources on this site free.
